Separator device

ABSTRACT

A separator device for removing particles from suspension in a fluid includes a housing having first and second apertures for ingress and egress of fluid into and out of the housing. A first separator chamber is disposed at one end of the housing. A second separator chamber is disposed at the other end of the housing. A central chamber is disposed between the first and second separator chambers. The first and second separator chambers are apertured for ingress and egress of fluid from the central chamber, and each contains obstruction means to slow the flow of fluid within the chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/402,968 which is a National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/GB2013/051329, filed May 21, 2013, which claimspriority to GB 1219752.1, filed Nov. 2, 2012, which in turn claimspriority to GB 1208917.3, filed May 21, 2012.The entire disclosures ofthe above applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a separator device suitable forseparating particles from a fluid flow and particularly but notexclusively to a separator device for use in a hydronic heating system.

BACKGROUND

In a typical heating system, water is circulated by a pump throughseveral radiators, possibly a heat exchanger in a hot water cylinder,and a boiler. During circulation, solid particles (for example, ironoxide) which have come loose from the interior of the radiators andpipework can become suspended in the water. Solid particles can also bepresent as contaminants in the water originally supplied to the system,and the water can become contaminated by dirt where an open expansiontank forms part of the system. These solid particles can causemalfunction if they build up in the boiler or pump, and reduce theeffectiveness of the heating system by restricting the flow of water andclogging radiators. The water in a heating system should therefore becontinually cleaned to remove solid particles as far as possible.

Various devices are known for removing particles from suspension in aflow of water. Typically these devices include a magnet for attractingferrous particles, and may also include mechanical separation means forremoving nonmagnetic particles. Nonmagnetic particles may be removed bycausing a portion of the water to flow through a separation chamber,within which obstruction means are disposed to slow the flow. Particleswill then fall out of suspension and become trapped in cavities, whichcan easily be cleaned during an annual service. Only a portion of theflow is slowed, so that the overall flow rate in the heating circuit isnot significantly reduced. A device of this type is disclosed in theapplicant's co-pending applications GB2486173 and GB2486172.

These prior devices typically consist of a cylindrical housing, a magnetdisposed within the housing along its longitudinal axis, and amechanical separation chamber disposed at a lower end of the housing. Aninlet and an outlet are provided on a side wall of the housing,typically one above the other. The inlet and outlet are configured toset up a swirl of water within the housing and are tangential orsubstantially tangential to the housing.

The magnet is typically sleeved so that magnetic particles do not stickdirectly to the magnet, but to the sleeve around the magnet. The magnetmay be removed from the sleeve when the device is cleaned and theparticles will simply fall away. However, providing a sleeve around themagnet does reduce the magnetic field strength, and therefore theeffectiveness of the filter. The sleeve should therefore be as thin aspossible. Due to manufacturing limitations, the thickness of the sleeveis typically great enough to substantially attenuate the magnetic field.

Due to the very tight space within which a device may need to beinstalled, particularly if it is being retrofitted to an existinginstallation, the tangential inlet and outlet may impose an unwelcomeconstraint upon the installer. In some cases it may simply not bepossible to fit a device of suitable capacity with tangential orsubstantially tangential inlets. A separator also has to be oriented ina particular way for it to operate as intended and usually this is withthe cylindrical housing extending substantially vertically, so thatnon-magnetic debris separated from the flow can drop to a collectionarea at the bottom of the separator. If it is installed in an incorrectorientation, the error may not be immediately obvious and may not benoticed until a service. During this time, the effectiveness of theseparation device will be substantially reduced, and it may becompletely ineffective.

Separation devices are typically fitted to either the flow or returnpipe of the heating circuit. Two cuts must be made in the pipe at a setdistance apart, and right angle connectors are then fitted to the openends. If two separate right angle connectors are used, then theinstaller must be careful to ensure that the extent to which they arefitted to the open ends of the pipe is such that the vertical distancebetween the perpendicular sections of the right angle connectors isexactly correct to fit the separation device. Any error istime-consuming to correct because a section of the flow or return pipemay need to be cut out and replaced.

It is an object of this invention to provide a separator device whichreduces or substantially obviates the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda separator device for removing particles from suspension in a fluidcomprising:

-   -   a housing, having first and second apertures for ingress and        egress of fluid into and out of the housing;    -   a first separator chamber disposed at one end of the housing;    -   a second separator chamber disposed at the other end of the        housing, and a central chamber disposed between the first and        second separator chambers,        the first and second separator chambers being apertured for        ingress and egress of fluid from the central chamber and each        containing obstruction means to slow the flow of fluid within        the chamber.

This arrangement is advantageous because, by providing separatingchambers at either end of the separator, one may always be disposed inthe optimal position for effectively removing particles from suspensionin the fluid, whichever of the first and second apertures is used as theinlet. The device can be installed with the inlet and outlet either wayaround, providing additional flexibility to an installer who may beworking in an area where space is at a premium. For example, the devicemay be installed either above or below a boiler, on either the flow orreturn of the heating circuit. It has also been found that in aseparator of this type, that most effective separation is achieved inthe upper separation chamber.

Means may be provided to set up a swirl of fluid within the housing.

A magnet may be provided in the central chamber. The magnet attractsferrous particles from the fluid in the central chamber.

The means of obstruction in at least one of the first and secondseparator chambers may comprise at least in part of a plurality ofsubstantially planar walls. The planar walls may be disposed radially.Such means of obstruction may alternatively or additionally comprise ofa plurality of substantially cylindrical protrusions.

Where substantially cylindrical protrusions are provided in addition toplanar walls, the substantially cylindrical protrusions may extendthrough and above the substantially cylindrical walls.

The planar walls slow the flow of the fluid, and also define cavitiesbetween adjacent walls in which solid particles are prone to collect.The cylindrical protrusions provide a further barrier to the flow offluid, and increase the overall distance which must be traversed by thefluid, thus increasing the quantity of solid particles which are removedfrom suspension in the chamber.

The means of obstruction in at least one of the first and secondseparator chambers may comprise at least in part of one or more curvedwalls. The curved walls define a lengthy and complex pathway throughwhich water must flow.

Where curved walls are provided, at least one reverse curved wall may beincluded. The curved walls, whether or not including a reverse curvedwall, may form concave collection areas for collection of particles. Theconcave collection areas may face in different directions.

The advantage of curved walls forming concave collection areas, whichmay face in different directions, is that they are able to effectivelyremove particles from the flow when positioned in any orientation, forexample, if the separator is not fitted vertically, but at an angle tothe vertical.

The arrangement of curved walls within either or both of the first andsecond separator chambers may be reflectively and/or rotationallysymmetrical.

The first and second separating chambers may be removable from thehousing. The first and second chambers may be provided as part of asingle removable insert, the separator chambers being mounted at eitherend of a central section. Removal from the housing facilitateseffortless cleaning away of particles which have built up in thechambers.

The first separating chamber may be open to the housing at its upperend. The first chamber may have inlets in the underside from the centralchamber, which may spiral upwardly into the first chamber. Where theinlets spiral upwardly, they may spiral in opposing arcuate directions,guiding the flow into the chamber irrespective of the rotationaldirection of swirl in the central chamber.

The second separating chamber may comprise a tray and a roof section.The roof section may be attached to the central section, and the traymay be removable for cleaning. The apertures for ingress and egress offluid into and out of the second separation chambers may be in the roofof the chamber.

A flow guide may be provided on the roof section of the secondseparating chamber, extending upwardly and radially from the roofsection and overhanging the apertures in opposing directions fordirecting flow into the second chamber from both sides of the flowguide, for capturing flow irrespective of the rotational direction ofswirl in the central chamber.

The flow guide serves to guide a portion of the swirling flow of fluidthrough the separation chamber, whilst allowing the overall flow rate ofthe heating circuit to be substantially maintained.

The housing may be closed by a watertight lid. This allows the unit tobe sealed when in normal operation as part of, for example, a closedheating circuit, but easily opened during service for removal of solidparticles which have been removed from the fluid by the device.

A bleed valve may be provided at the upper end of the housing, and adrain valve may be provided in the base of the housing. In use, afterisolating the device from the heating circuit, the upper and lowervalves are opened to drain the fluid from the housing. The lower valveis then closed, and the system may be dosed with a fluid, for example acorrosion inhibitor, via the upper valve. The separator device is thenreconnected to the heating circuit, air being forced out of the bleedvalve. When all the air has been removed the bleed valve is closed, andthe system refilled and/or repressurized as necessary.

The swirl of fluid within the housing may be set up by means ofdeflectors which are mounted within the apertures in the housing. Thedeflectors may extend to some degree into the central chamber of thehousing and may be moulded into the wall of the housing. The advantageof this arrangement is that the inlet and outlet pipes can enter thehousing parallel to each other, providing ease of fitting.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a sleeve for a magnet isprovided in the form of a hollow cylinder, having a curved wall withthickness less than 0.8 mm, and preferably less than 0.7 mm. Athin-walled sleeve is advantageous because the attenuation of themagnetic field is minimized.

The sleeve may be molded from plastics, and reinforcing ribs and/orspines may be provided. Reinforcing ribs and spines retain thestructural strength of the magnetic sleeve, allowing the thickness ofthe walls to be reduced. The ribs and spines also improve the flow ofplastic in a mold when the sleeve is manufactured, removing anotherlimitation on minimum sleeve thickness.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided anin-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe, comprising firstand second fluid-carrying portions and a non-fluid-carrying spacer forlinking the first and second fluid-carrying portions, eachfluid-carrying portion including a socket for receiving an open end of apipe and a connector for connection of the filter, the socket of thefirst fluid-carrying portion having a pipe receiving depth greater thanthat of the socket of the second fluid-carrying portion, and the socketsof the first and second fluid-carrying portions being positioned on acommon axis and facing away from each other when the fluid-carryingportions are linked by the spacer.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided anin-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe, comprising firstand second in line sockets for accepting the open ends of fluid carryingpipes, the first and second sockets being linked by a spacer, and thefirst socket having a pipe receiving depth greater than that of thesecond socket.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided anin-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe, comprisingindependent first and second fluid-carrying portions, and a spacer forsetting the distance between the fluid-carrying portions, eachfluid-carrying portion including a socket for receiving an open end of apipe and a connector for connection of the filter.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided anin-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe, comprising firstand second independent fluid-carrying portions for connection to thepipe, the first fluid carrying portion directing flow out of the line ofthe pipe and the second fluid carrying portion directing flow back intothe line of the pipe, the first and second fluid-carrying portions beinglinkable by a spacer for setting the distance between the fluid-carryingportions, the first and second fluid-carrying portions each includingsockets for connection to the pipe, the socket of the firstfluid-carrying portion having a pipe receiving depth greater than thepipe receiving depth of the socket of the second fluid-carrying portion.

In some embodiments, the spacer may be hollow. However, the spacer isnon-fluid-carrying in the sense that it is not in fluid communicationwith the connector or the socket of either of the first and secondfluid-carrying portions.

The in-line fitment may be used to install the separator deviceaccording to the first aspect of the invention onto, for example, acentral heating pipe. The in-line fitment may also be suitable for usewith other filtering, cleaning or processing devices which need to befitted to a fluid-carrying pipe.

The in-line fitment is advantageous because it can be easily fitted to apipe. First a section of a certain length is cut from the pipe, leavingtwo open ends of the pipe. The first socket is then fitted to a firstopen end of the pipe. Due to the greater pipe receiving depth of thefirst socket, the fitment can move parallel to the pipe whilst engagedwith the first open end of the pipe. The second socket can afterwards beengaged with a second open end of the pipe by sliding the fitmenttowards the first open end, and then back down over the second open end.Because the sockets are joined together by a spacer, the correctdistance between the sockets is always maintained, whilst allowingfitting to a pipe which is already anchored to a wall.

The spacer may be removable, so that the fitment may be used either asone connected piece or as two separate fluid-carrying pieces.

A removable spacer further assists with fitting, because the two socketsmay be attached to open ends of the pipe independently, without the needfor any manipulation of the pipe ends. The correct distance between thesockets is nonetheless easy to achieve, because the first socket, havinga greater pipe receiving depth, can be moved parallel to the pipe andthe spacer then refitted between the sockets.

A removable spacer also allows a filter having vertically-oriented inletand outlet ports to be fitted to a cut section of pipe which isnon-vertical in orientation. For example, a filter withvertically-oriented inlet and outlet ports may need to be fitted to apipe running horizontally or diagonally. Also, a filter may need to befitted with an inlet pipe at right angles to an outlet pipe.

The connector of each fluid-carrying portion may have a longitudinalaxis substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the socketof the respective fluid-carrying portion.

Typically, a filter will be fitted to a pipe which runs parallel to awall or other flat surface. Where each fluid-carrying portion has aconnector at right angles to a pipe socket, effectively forming a 90°bend, a filter with inlet and outlet ports extending horizontally fromits side can be mounted against a vertical wall, without furthercomponents being required.

A valve may be provided on each fluid-carrying portion for controllingthe flow of fluid between the socket and the connector of thefluid-carrying portion. The valve may be used to prevent flow throughthe fluid-carrying portions, that is, to cut off the pipe socket of eachfluid-carrying portion from its respective connector.

Where the fitment is used to connect a filter to a central heatingsystem, it is useful to be able to isolate the filter from the centralheating circuit. This allows the filter to be opened for cleaning,without opening the central heating circuit and allowing heating fluidto escape.

A plug may be provided on each fluid carrying portion, on an end of thefluid carrying portion opposing the socket, the plug corresponding witha socket on the spacer for releasably engaging the spacer with thefluid-carrying portion.

A plug and socket connection provides for very easy fitting or locationof the spacer between the fluid-carrying portions. With plugs on eachfluid-carrying portion opposing each other when the fluid-carryingportions are fitted to the spacer, the spacer can only be removed wherethere is space to move the fluid-carrying portions away from each otherand from the spacer. In other words, the spacer can easily be fitted andremoved when the fitment is not installed, but cannot come away when thefitment is secured to the open ends of a pipe.

The plugs may each include a circular section and a dog section havingat least one straight edge. A recess may be provided around thecircumference of the circular section, an O-ring being provided in therecess. A circular section with an O-ring allows for a tight fitting ofthe plug into the corresponding socket, which is nonetheless easy toremove. The dog section prevents rotation of the plug in the socket,ensuring that the connectors of the first and second fluid-carryingportions remain correctly aligned for fitting of a filter.

Removable caps may be provided for fitting over the plugs of thefluid-carrying sections. The removable caps may be made from flexibleplastics. When the spacer is not required, it is advantageous to coverthe plugs.

A fitting jig may be provided, the fitting jig including a rigid memberhaving two parallel apertures therethrough, the parallel apertures beingadapted to receive the connectors of the first and second fluid-carryingpipes. The thickness of the rigid member in a direction parallel to theapertures may be at least half of a length of the connectors.

In use, the fluid-carrying portions may be connected to the spacer, andthe fitting jig installed over the connectors. This ensures that allparts of the fitment are correctly aligned. The first fluid-carryingsection may then be installed on the open end of a pipe, as describedabove, with the greater pipe receiving depth of the first fluid-carryingsection allowing the first fluid-carrying section to be moved onto theopen end of the pipe, and then the second fluid-carrying section to bemoved in the other direction, over another open end of the pipe.

DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show moreclearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made,by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a separator device according to thefirst aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the separator device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective cut-away view of the separator device of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an insert according to the secondaspect of the invention, being a component part of the separator deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the insert of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view from above of the insert of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a tray, being a component part of aseparator chamber which in turn is a part of the separator device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a plan view from below of the tray of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a pipe fitment according to the thirdaspect of the invention;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a spacer, being a component part ofthe pipe fitment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of the spacer of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the pipe fitment of FIG. 9, with afitting jig installed;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the pipe fitment of FIG. 9, fittedto the separator device of FIG. 1 for installation to a vertical pipe;and

FIG. 14 shows a front plan view of the pipe fitment of FIG. 9, with thespacer removed and fitted to the separator device of FIG. 1 forinstallation to a vertical pipe and a horizontal pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 3, a separator device for separatingparticles from suspension in a fluid is indicated generally at 10. Ahousing 12 is provided, comprising of a body portion 14 and a removableclosure portion 16. The body portion is substantially a cylindricalshell open at the upper end, that is, the body portion 14 comprises afloor and a wall 17. The upper end of the wall 17 of the body portion 14is formed with a male thread 18 and, directly below the male thread, acircumferential rim 20.

The closure portion 16 is in the form of a screw-on cap comprising acircular planar roof 26 and a circumferential wall 28 extending belowthe edge of the roof. A thread 22 is formed on the interior surface ofthe wall 28, for co-operating with the male thread 18 at the upper endof the wall 17 of the housing body portion 14. A plurality of recesses24 are provided spaced uniformly around the outside of the wall 28 ofthe closure portion 16 in order to assist a user in gripping the closureportion 16 to effect closure and removal.

A recess 30 is provided around the edge of the underside of the roof 26of the closure portion 16. A rubber O-ring 32 sits within the recess 30,around half of the height of the O-ring 32 extending below the undersideof the roof 26. When the closure portion 16 is screwed onto the bodyportion 14 of the housing 12, the O-ring 32 is compressed between theroof 26 of the closure portion 16 and the upper edge of the wall 17 ofthe housing body portion 14, forming a watertight seal.

An inlet and an outlet are provided as first and second hollowcylindrical sockets 96 in the wall 17 of the housing body 14, eachextending perpendicular to the same tangent of the cylindrical body,that is, the sockets extend outwardly from the wall of the housing 14and are parallel to each other on a diameter of the housing 12. JohnGuest Speedfit® connectors 98 are provided within the sockets 96,allowing easy fitting to a heating circuit.

The parallel inlet and outlet sockets 96 on the same diameter enableeasy fitting to a heating circuit, since the inlet and outlet will be inthe same straight pipe line when the device is installed.

Deflectors 100, best shown in FIG. 2, are provided within each of thesockets 96 in the cylindrical housing 12. The deflectors 100 block aportion of each socket 96, directing the flow on the inlet to one sideand resulting in a swirling flow within the housing 12. The edges of thedeflectors 100 are at an angle of around 10° from the vertical, so as todivert water slightly vertically as well as horizontally. Providingdeflectors 100 in both sockets 96 allows either to be used as the inlet.

A bleed valve 102 is provided through the center of the screw-on cap 16and is screwed into a plug 50 within the housing 12. The bleed valveincludes a head portion 106 and a body portion 108, the head portion 106being of greater diameter than the body portion 108, so that the bodyportion 108 but not the head portion 106 will fit through a circularaperture in the center of the roof 26 of the closure portion 16 of thehousing 12. A passage 120 is provided through the center of the head andbody portions 106, 108. The head portion 106 is provided with anexternal screw thread, and a screw-on cap 104 closes the bleed valve,sealed by an O-ring arrangement.

A drain valve 116 comprising of a screw-in plug with seal is provided inthe floor of the housing body 14.

In use, the separator device 10 is isolated from the heating circuit,and the bleed valve 102 and drain valve 116 are opened to drain fluidfrom the housing 12. The drain valve 116 is then closed, and the systemcan be dosed with a corrosion inhibitor via the bleed valve 102. Asupply line can be secured onto the thread of the head portion. Theseparator device 10 is then reconnected to the heating circuit, airbeing forced out of the bleed valve 102. When all the air has beenremoved the bleed valve 102 is closed, and the system refilled and/orre-pressurized as necessary.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-8, an insert 34 is removably contained withinthe housing 12. The insert comprises a central section 36 formed as ahollow cylinder, a first separation chamber 38 at an upper end of theinsert and a second separation chamber 40 at a lower end of the insert,as viewed and installed in the housing. The upper and lower separationchambers 38, 40 are substantially cylindrical and share a central axiswith the central section 36. The upper and lower separation chambers 38,40 are sized to almost completely extend to the full interior diameterof the housing body 14.

The hollow cylindrical central section 36 has a curved wall which isapproximately 0.65 mm thick. Four equally spaced reinforcing ribs 37 areprovided, each around the circumference of the outer surface of thecylindrical central section 36. Four equally spaced reinforcing spines33 are provided perpendicular to the ribs 37. The ribs 37 and spines 33define rectangular panels 35.

A cylindrical magnet is provided inside the hollow central section 36 ofthe insert 34, the central section forming a sheath around the magnet.In use, the magnet attracts ferrous particles which collect in thepanels 35 on the outer surface of the central sheath section 36 of theinsert 34. When the heating system is serviced, the insert 34 may beremoved from the housing 12, and the magnet removed from within thecentral sheath section 36. With the magnet removed, ferrous particleswill easily fall away for disposal.

The upper separation chamber 38 is formed as a cylindrical shell with anopen top end, that is, a circular tray having a floor 44 and a singlecurved wall 46. The floor 44 has a circular aperture at its center whichhas the same interior diameter as the hollow central section 36 of thesheath 34. Within the upper separation chamber 38, protrusions 48 extendfrom the floor 44, the protrusions 48 having a vertical extent matchingthe vertical extent of the wall 46. The protrusions 48 form interiorwalls which define passageways within the upper separation chamber 38.

The arrangement of the protrusions 48 is best shown in FIG. 6. Thearrangement is reflectively symmetrical about two orthogonal axes A-A,B-B. Two protrusions of a first type 56 face each other. The protrusionsof the first type 56 are formed of a curved wall 58 comprisingsubstantially 90° of a circle arc, with a radius of curvature slightlysmaller than the radius of the upper separation chamber 38, and astraight wall 60 extending inwardly from the center of the curved wall58 towards the center of the chamber 38. Approximately one third of thelength of the straight wall 60 extends beyond a straight line C-Cbetween the ends of the curved section 58. The concave faces of thecurved walls 58 face each other.

The protrusions of the first type 56 are positioned with the straightwall 60 on a diameter B-B of the upper separation chamber 38, and sothat the curved wall 58 does not touch the wall 46 of the upperseparation chamber 38, enabling water to flow around all sides of theprotrusions 56.

Two protrusions of a second type 62 face each other at 90° to theprotrusions of the first type 56. The protrusions of the second type 62each comprise a stem 66 extending from the wall 46 of the upperseparation chamber 38 towards the center of the chamber 38, and twohook-shaped walls 64. The stem 66 widens as it approaches the center ofthe upper separation chamber 38. The stem 66 meets the surface of theplug 50, curving around the surface of the plug. The hook-shaped walls64 extend from either side of the stem 66 where it meets the plug 50, atan angle of around 55° from the stem, so that the hook-shaped walls 64curve back towards the outside wall 46 of the upper separation chamber38. Before the hook-shaped walls 64 meet the wall 46 of the upperseparation chamber 38, they curve around 90° in the direction away fromthe stem 66, forming a hooked end. The extent of the hook after the 90°curve is substantially half of the extent of the hook before the curve.

Two straight protrusions 68, having similar vertical extent to the abovementioned protrusions 56, 62 and to the wall 46 of the upper separationchamber 38, are disposed adjacent to the wall 46 on the diameter B-B ofthe upper separation chamber 38, projecting inwardly towards the centerof the upper separation chamber 38.

Four slots 118 are provided in the floor 44 of the upper separationchamber 38. The slots serve to guide a portion of the swirling flow ofwater within the housing 12 into the upper separation chamber 38,without significantly reducing the overall flow rate in the heatingcircuit. The slots 118 spiral upwardly into the first separation chamber38, in opposing arcuate directions, and extend through the side wall 46.That is, two spiral upwardly in one arcuate direction, and the other twoin the opposing direction, for guiding flow into the upper separationchamber 38 irrespective of the direction of swirl within the housing 12.

The lower separation chamber 40 is formed as a tray 70, best seen inFIG. 7, which is detachable from a lid 72. The lid 72 is an integralpart of the removable insert 34. The tray 70 is toroidal with an innerwall 76, an outer wall 78 and a floor 80. The tray 70 has an outerdiameter just less than the interior diameter of the housing body 14 andan inner diameter substantially matching the external diameter of thecentral section 36 of the removable insert 34.

A plurality of planar walls 82 extend from the tray floor 80, each wall82 joining the outer tray wall 78 to the inner tray wall 76, and eachhaving a vertical extent just less than the vertical extent of the traywalls 76, 78, so that water can flow over, but not under or around theplanar walls 82. The planar walls 82 are fourteen in number, and arespaced evenly around the toroidal tray 70 at sixteenths of itscircumference, two sixteenths being without walls 82, those twosixteenths being opposite each other and the arrangement of walls 82being reflectively and rotationally symmetrical about a diameter D-Dupon which the sixteenths without planar walls 82 lie. Thus the planarwalls 82 are arranged in two sections, each section having seven walls82.

Substantially cylindrical protrusions 84 extend from the tray floor 80and are coincident with the planar walls 82, so that that thecylindrical protrusions 84 extend through and above the substantiallyplanar walls 82. The planar walls 82 at the ends of the sections arecoincident with two cylindrical protrusions 84, as is every second wall82 in each section, the remaining planar walls 82 being coincident witha single cylindrical protrusion 84. Where a planar wall 82 has a singlecylindrical protrusion 84, the cylindrical protrusion 84 is at thecenter of the wall 82, equidistant from the inner and outer walls 76, 78of the toroidal tray. Where a wall 82 has two cylindrical protrusions84, the distance between a first cylindrical protrusion and the outertray wall 78 is equal to the distance between a second cylindricalprotrusion and the inner tray wall 76. Each aforementioned distance isapproximately one quarter of the distance between the inner and outerwalls 76, 78.

The lid 72 of the lower separation chamber 40 is formed as an annularroof 86 surrounding the central section 36 of the insert 34, with a wall88 extending below the edge of the roof 86. The interior diameter of thelid 72 is substantially matching the exterior diameter of the tray 70 ofthe lower separation chamber so that the lid 72 fits over the tray 70.

Apertures 89 are provided in the roof 86 of the lid 72 at either side ofa radius, and are formed as two elongate rectangles, each with alongitudinal extent just less than the distance between the inner andouter sides of the annular roof 86, and the longitudinal axes of eachbeing parallel with each other. The two rectangular apertures 89 aretogether reflectively symmetrical about a radial axis halfway betweenthe apertures.

A flow guide 90 extends upwardly from the upper surface of the roof 86of the lid 72, on the radial axis of symmetry between the apertures,thus forming a wall between the apertures. The flow guide 90 becomeswider as it extends upwards, so that it forms an angled deflectoradjacent to and overhanging each aperture. The flow guide 90 thereforedeflects a portion of the swirling flow downwards into the lowerseparation chamber 40, irrespective of the direction of swirl within thehousing 12.

On the diameter D-D of the tray 70 which forms the space between the twosections of seven planar walls 82, two cylindrical pins 92 are providednear the top of the outer wall 78, extending outwardly from the outerwall 78. Co-operating slots 94 are provided in the walls 88 of the lid72 extending vertically from the base of the lid wall and thenlaterally. In use, the tray 70 is slotted onto the lid 72 and thenrotated to lock the tray 70 to the lid 72, in the manner of a bayonetconnector.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 to 14, a fitment for fitting the separatordevice 10 in-line in a central heating circuit is shown generally at130. The fitment 130 comprises first and second sockets 132 foraccepting the open ends of pipes, a screw compression fitting 134 ofwell-known design on each socket 132 for forming a sealed connectionwith the pipe ends, and first and second John Guest® Speedfit®connectors 136, fluidly connected respectively to the first and secondpipe sockets, for fitting to the Speedfit® connectors 98 in the inletand outlet 96 on the housing 12 of the separator device 10. A firstvalve 138 can be operated to break the fluid connection between thefirst pipe socket 132 and the first Speedfit® connection 136, and asecond valve 140 can be operated to break the fluid connection betweenthe second pipe socket 132 and the second Speedfit® connection 136. Oneof the two sockets 132 has a greater pipe receiving depth than theother, for example, twice the pipe receiving depth.

Plugs 142 are provided on the backs of the pipe sockets 132. The plugsinclude a circular section 143 adjacent to the back of the pipe socket132, and a square dog section 145 at the end of each plug 142. A recess147 is provided around the curved surface of the circular section 143,and an O-ring 149 fits within the recess, protruding beyond the curvedsurface.

A spacer 144 is provided for fitting between the backs of the first andsecond pipe sockets 132. The spacer 144 is sized to ensure that, when itis fitted, the Speedfit® connectors 136 on the fitment 130 are the samedistance apart as the Speedfit® connectors 98 in the sockets 96 on thehousing 12 of the separator device 10.

The spacer 144 is formed substantially as a cylinder. Recesses 146 areprovided on an outer wall 152 of the spacer 144 to provide torsionalrigidity without increased mass. A socket 148 extends through the spacerfrom the top to the bottom, and is in the shape of a circle with twoopposing truncated segments. At either end of the spacer 144, the socket148 has sections which are circular without truncated segments. Thecircular end sections of the socket are sized to receive the circularsections 143 of the plugs 142. The circular sections 143 of the plugs142 will not fit through the parts of the socket 148 having truncatedsegments, however the square sections 145 of the plugs 142 do fit intothe truncated socket sections.

When a plug 142 is inserted into a socket 148, the square end dogsection 145 of the plug 142 will be received into the portion of thesocket 148 which has truncated segments. Turning forces which act uponone of the compression fittings 134 will therefore be transmittedthrough the spacer to the other compression fitting 134. By using twospanners, the net torque which is transferred to the inlet and outlet 96of the separator device 10 is substantially reduced, limiting thepossibility of damage. Alternatively, the fitment 130 may be providedwith a fitting jig 180, as shown in FIG. 12. The fitting jig includes atleast two apertures 182 to fit over the connectors 136. The fitting jigensures that the connectors 136 remain in line, whilst the separatordevice 10 is not attached. This eliminates any possibility of damagingthe separator device 10 while fitting. The dog may have a differentcross section if desired, such as a hexagon.

When a plug 142 is inserted fully into a socket 148, the O-ring 149 onthe plug 142 acts to retain and align the plug 142 in the socket 148,requiring a positive force for removal.

In use, a section of the central heating flow or return pipe is removed.Where some manipulation of the central heating pipe is possible, thefitment 130 may be installed without removing the spacer 144. The socket132 with greater pipe receiving depth is installed first, and is slidover the end of the pipe until the socket 132 with lesser pipe receivingdepth can face the other open end of pipe. The fitment is then slid inthe other direction, over the open pipe end. A fitment installed in thisway is shown in FIG. 12, and with filter 10 fitted in FIG. 13.

The spacer 144 may alternatively be removed entirely to allow fitting ofthe separator device 10 to a non-vertical section of flow or returnheating pipe, as shown in FIG. 14. Where the spacer is removed, caps 150may be fitted over the plugs 142. The connectors 136 may be separatelyfitted into each of the John Guest® Speedfit® connectors 98 and may berotated through 360° to suit the angular path of the central heatingpipe. For the separator device 10 to be most efficient it must bemounted in a vertical orientation with the bleed valve housing 106uppermost and the drain valve 116 at the lowest point. The preferred andmost common option is to fit to vertical orientation pipe but byremoving spacer 144 the separator device 10 can be installed to anon-vertical cut section of central heating pipe by virtue of theflexibility of fitment 130. In FIG. 14, fitment 130 is installed on theseparator device 10 to receive a vertical pipe in the upper pipe socketand a horizontal pipe in the lower pipe socket.

By virtue of the inlet and outlet connections being in-line, theseparator device 10 is easy to fit. Furthermore, the inlet and outletcan be interchanged, i.e. the flow direction can be changed, and theseparator will operate effectively with flow in either direction. All ofthe separating chambers are able to cope with swirl in both directionswithin the housing. By providing three chambers filtration is achievedwhilst the flow rate is substantially unaffected.

We claim:
 1. An in-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe,comprising first and second fluid-carrying portions and a nonfluid-carrying spacer for linking the first and second fluid-carryingportions, each fluid-carrying portion including a socket for receivingan open end of a pipe and a connector for connection of the filter, thesocket of the first fluid-carrying portion having a pipe receiving depthgreater than that of the socket of the second fluid-carrying portion,and the sockets of the first and second fluid-carrying portions beingpositioned on a common axis and facing away from each other when thefluid-carrying portions are linked by the spacer.
 2. The in-line fitmentof claim 1, in which the spacer is removable and the fitment can be usedeither as one connected piece or as two separate fluid-carryingportions.
 3. The in-line fitment of claim 1, in which the connector ofeach fluid-carrying portion has a longitudinal axis substantially atright angles to a longitudinal axis of the socket of the respectivefluid-carrying portion.
 4. The in-line fitment of claim 1, in which avalve is provided on each fluid-carrying portion for controlling theflow of fluid between the socket and the connector of the fluid-carryingportion.
 5. The in-line fitment of claim 1, in which a plug is providedon each fluid carrying portion, on an end of the fluid carrying portionopposing the socket, the plug corresponding with a socket on the spacerfor releasably engaging the spacer with the fluid-carrying portion. 6.The in-line fitment of claim 5, in which the plug includes a circularsection and a dog section having at least one straight edge.
 7. Thein-line fitment of claim 6, in which a recess is provided around thecircumference of the circular section, and an O-ring is provided in therecess.
 8. The in-line fitment of claim 1, in which a fitting jig isprovided, the fitting jig including a rigid member having two parallelapertures therethrough, the parallel apertures being adapted to receivethe connectors of the first and second fluid-carrying portions.
 9. Thein-line fitment of claim 8, in which the thickness of the rigid memberin a direction parallel to the apertures is at least half of a length ofthe connectors.
 10. An in-line fitment for connection of a filter to apipe, comprising first and second fluid-carrying portions and aremovable non fluid-carrying spacer for linking the first and secondfluid-carrying portions, each fluid-carrying portion including a socketfor receiving an open end of a pipe and a connector for connection ofthe filter, the socket of the first fluid-carrying portion having a pipereceiving depth greater than that of the socket of the secondfluid-carrying portion, and the sockets of the first and secondfluid-carrying portions being positioned on a common axis and facingaway from each other when the fluid-carrying portions are linked by thespacer, wherein the fitment can be used either as one connected piece oras two separate fluid-carrying portions.
 11. The in-line fitment ofclaim 10, in which the connector of each fluid-carrying portion has alongitudinal axis substantially at right angles to a longitudinal axisof the socket of the respective fluid-carrying portion.
 12. The in-linefitment of claim 10, in which a valve is provided on each fluid-carryingportion for controlling the flow of fluid between the socket and theconnector of the fluid-carrying portion.
 13. The in-line fitment ofclaim 10, in which a plug is provided on each fluid carrying portion, onan end of the fluid carrying portion opposing the socket, the plugcorresponding with a socket on the spacer for releasably engaging thespacer with the fluid-carrying portion.
 14. The in-line fitment of claim13, in which the plug includes a circular section and a dog sectionhaving at least one straight edge.
 15. The in-line fitment of claim 14,in which a recess is provided around the circumference of the circularsection, and an O-ring is provided in the recess.
 16. The in-linefitment of claim 10, in which a fitting jig is provided, the fitting jigincluding a rigid member having two parallel apertures therethrough, theparallel apertures being adapted to receive the connectors of the firstand second fluid-carrying portions.
 17. The in-line fitment of claim 16,in which the thickness of the rigid member in a direction parallel tothe apertures is at least half of a length of the connectors.
 18. Anin-line fitment for connection of a filter to a pipe, comprising firstand second fluid-carrying portions and a non fluid-carrying spacer forlinking the first and second fluid-carrying portions, eachfluid-carrying portion including a socket for receiving an open end of apipe and a connector for connection of the filter, the socket of thefirst fluid-carrying portion having a pipe receiving depth greater thanthat of the socket of the second fluid-carrying portion, and the socketsof the first and second fluid-carrying portions being positioned on acommon axis and facing away from each other when the fluid-carryingportions are linked by the spacer, wherein a plug is provided on eachfluid carrying portion, on an end of the fluid carrying portion opposingthe socket, the plug corresponding with a socket on the spacer forreleasably engaging the spacer with the fluid-carrying portion.
 19. Thein-line fitment of claim 18, in which the plug includes a circularsection and a dog section having at least one straight edge.
 20. Thein-line fitment of claim 19, in which a recess is provided around thecircumference of the circular section, and an O-ring is provided in therecess.